Geology and Climate

For its small size Costa Rica has a surprising large diversity in climates. It's weather is influenced by many factors, as is weather everywhere, although perhaps two of the most important factors are the fairly even amount of solar radiation received throughout the year, topography and the prevailing northeasterly winds, known as the trade winds (Papagayo Winds). Costa Rica is very mountainous and therefore has many climate zones...

With more or less constant temperatures found at any given location,(2 degrees Celcius difference between summer and winter months) the most important variable in annual weather patterns becomes precipitation. The Climate of Costa Rica therefore is very predictable. The diversity in Climate Zones comes from the unique Geology of Costa Rica as it has very high mountain ranges within only two hours of drive to either coast.